Workpiece advancing means

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a cylindrical workpiece sanding machine which includes a plurality of workpiece driving heads for advancing a piece to be sanded through a sanding operation. Each of the workpiece driving heads includes a pair of shaped rollers biased into engagement with the workpiece, a drive train for rotating the rollers about a respective roller axis to advance the workpiece along its axis and for simultaneously rotating the rollers about the workpiece axis thereby spirally advancing the workpiece. A plurality of abrading belts are located on the sanding machine with means for driving an abrading surface on each of the belts adjacent the workpiece advancing axis.

United States Patent Arnold, deceased et al. 1 Feb. 8, 1972 [54] WORKPIECE ADVANCING MEANS 2,476,683 7/1949 Pieri ..51/87 [72] Inventors: Lucius E Arnold deceased, ate of Hogan 2,918,759 12/1959 Konazewski ..51/87 22151:, Ga, L. P. Arnold, Evelyn S. Arnold, Primary Examiner Donald G Kelly Attorney-Newton, Hopkins & Ormsby [73] Assignee: J. E. (Johnnie) Williamson, Hogansville,

57 1 ABSTRACT Filed: June 1 1970 This invention relates to a cylindrical workpiece sanding [21] Appt NOJ 46,112 machine which includes a plurality of workpiece driving heads for advancing a piece to be sanded through a sanding operation. Each of the workpiece driving heads includes a pair of [52] US. Cl ..5l/215 AR, 51/139 shaped rollers biased into engagement with the workpiece, a [51] [I ll- Cl ..B24b 21/02 drive train for rotating the rollels about a respective roller axis [58] new of Search "51/87 1 215 to advance the workpiece along its axis and for simultaneously 5 H215 215 SF rotating the rollers about the workpiece axis thereby spirally advancing the workpiece. A plurality of abrading belts are [56] References cued located on the sanding machine with means for driving an UNITED STATES PATENTS abrading surface on each of the belts adjacent the workpiece advancing axis. 2,572,374 10/1951 Oas ..51/139 2,881,570 4/1959 Moore 12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEB 8B7? 3.640.025

INVENTOR. Luclous P. ARNOLD ATTaRNE s PATENTEB FEB 8 I972 SHEET 2 OF 4 INVENTOR. LUCIOU F ARNOLD BYWZQW, fi Xid ,5 Jmrky ATTORNEYS PATENYEB FEB 8 I972 SHEET 3 BF 4 INVENTOR.

Luaoue P. ARNOLD -L/Vzwm M AT T RN E Y5 PATENIEU FEB 81972 SHEET R 0F 4 INVENTOR. LUCIOU F ARNOLD Bur 14 0211,

I WORKPIECE ADVANCING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The prior art sanding machines for cylindrical workpieces have several power driving members engaging the workpiece for spirally advancing the work past-a traveling abrading belt. These sanding machines have a disadvantage in that each driving member that engages the workpiece has a tendency to damage the cylindrical surface due to the forces necessary to advance the workpiece past the abrading belt.

Further disadvantages of these machines is that excessive power driving members increase the changes of unreliability due to the excessive glaring and due to the dusty environment from the sanding.

The prior art sanding machines for use in sanding cylindrical workpieces are also complex in construction, uneconomical to manufacture, and unreliable in operation due to the complexity of the mechanism associated therewith.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an efficient and reliable sanding machine for spirally advancing the workpiece past a traveling abrading means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sanding'machine with a drive means having a substantially dust free environment thereby increasing operating efficiency and reliability.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a plurality of workpiece drive means for continuously spirally advancing the workpiece along its entire length during a sanding operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a sanding machine which includes drive means for spirally advancing a workpiece past a sanding station without damaging the workpiece during the advancing operation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a sanding machine which includes means for adjusting the distance of the abrading means relative to the axis of the workpiece during the advancing operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sanding machine which includes guide means for guiding a workpiece during an advancing operation to thereby maintain the workpiece in correct alignment with the abrading means.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a sanding machine for use in sanding a cylindrical workpiece wherein the sanding machine includes a plurality of sanding stations.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a sanding machine for cylindrical workpieces which is automatic in the sanding and advancing operation of a cylindrical workpiece.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a sanding machine which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and reliable in operation.

Still other objects and advantages in the details of construction will become apparent after reading the accompanying specification, with reference to the attached drawings wherein like reference characters have been used to refer to like parts throughout the several figures of drawings, and wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention showing a combination of three workpiece driving means and two abrading stations.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of one workpiece driving means.

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged assembled view of the workpiece driving means shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the adjustable means for the central support roller of the abrading belt.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the adjustable support means for an end roller of the abrading belt.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT Referring now particularly to FIG. 1, the cylindrical workpiece sanding machine will be described with reference to a support framework 10, a pair of endless belt abrading stations 22, 24 and a series of workpiece advancing heads 14, 16 and 18.

As shown in FIG. 1, the framework 10 supports a motor 12 connected for driving each of the three workpiece advancing heads 14, 16 and 18. A second motor 20 is supported on the framework 10 and connected for driving each of the abrading belt stations 22, 24, at right angle relative to the advancing workpiece. The advancing heads 14, 16 and 18 are coaxially aligned to continuously spirally advance a workpiece through each of the advancing heads and pass each of the abrading stations 22, 24, automatically.

The abrading belt stations 22, 24 include a common power shaft 26 driven by the motor 20 by way of pulley belts 28. A drum 30 is rigidly assembled to the shaft 26 on one side of the belt 28 and a second drum 32 is rigidly assembled. to the shaft 26 on the other side of the belts 28. A shaft bearing 34 is located on each side of the drum 30 and a shaft bearing 36 is located on each side of the drum 32 for rotatably supporting the shaft 26. A second common shaft 38 located on the opposite side of the advancing heads l4, l6 and 18 includes a first drum 40 rigidly assembled thereto in transverse alignment with the drum 30. A second drum 40 is rigidly assembled to the shaft 30 in transverse alignment with drum 32. A pair of endless abrading belts 44 are supported on drums 30 and 40. The belts 44 can be of varying coarseness for efficient sanding. A second pair of endless abrading belts 46 are supported on drums 32, 42 generally parallel to the belts 44. A shaft bearing 48 is located on each side of the dnrm 40 forrotatably supporting the shaft 38. The bearings 48 are fixed to plates 50 v which are adjustably supported on the frame end 10 by bolts 52, as shown in FIG. 6. Therefore, the drums 40 can be horizontally adjusted relative to drum 30 for varying the tension on the belts 44. A bearing 54is located on each side of the drum 42 for rotatably supporting shaft 38. The bearings 54 are fixed to a plate 56 for adjustment on the frame 10 in the same manner as the plate 50 for varying the tension in the belts 46.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, a roller 60 is supported by a pair of bearings 62 (only one of which is shown on FIG. 1 but it is to be understood that a second bearing similar to the one shown in FIG. 1 identified by the reference character 62 will be located on the opposite side of the roller 60) which are fixed to brackets 64. The brackets 64 are supported for vertical adjustment on the frame 10 by connector means 66. The roller 60 is located immediately below the sanding surface of the belts 44 and offset from and parallel to the axial path of a workpiece for supporting the belts 44 in a correct adjusted position during a sanding operation. A second roller 70 is rotatably supported by a pair of bearings 72 which are fixed to brackets 74. The brackets 74 are adjustably supported on the frame 10 similar to bracket 64. The roller 70 is located similarly to roller 60 for firmly supporting the belts 46 adjacent an advancing workpiece.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the drive means for the advancing heads 14, 16 and 18 are connected to the motor 12 by a common drive shaft which is rotated by a conventional belt and pulley means 82. The shaft 80 is supported on the framework 10 by conventional bearing means and includes sprocket means 84 and 86 which are fixed to extended ends of the shaft 80. A third sprocket (not shown) is fixed to the shaft 80 centrally thereof for driving chain 94 to provide a drive for the advancing head 16. The advancing head 14 is connected in driving relationship with the sprocket 84 by a sprocket 88 and endless chain 90. A driving sprocket 92 is supported on the second advancing head 16 and is driven by a chain 94 from a sprocket (not shown) supported on the shaft 80. The third driving head 18 is driven by a sprocket 96 which is fixed to the same manner, thus it is only necessary to describe in detail the structure and operation of one of such advancing heads. Referring now particularly to FIGS. 2-4 the driving sprocket 88 is fixed to a workpiece guide sleeve 100 by a setscrew l02. The sleeve 100 extends the length of the head 14 and forms a cylindrical opening 104 for receiving and guiding a workpiece 7 along the workpiece longitudinal axis. A shaft bearing 108 rotatably supports one end of the sleeve 100 on the frame and a second shaft bearing 1 10 rotatably supports the opposite end of thevsleeve 100 on the frame 10. A beveled gear 112 is fixed to the bearing 108 by a setscrew 114 and is held against rotation, with the sleeve 100 being rotatably supported therein.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the remaining elements of the drive means is supported on the sleeve 100 for rotation therewith. A pair of plates 120, 122 is supported on the sleeve 100 by a first pin 124 extending through the plate 120,

through an opening 126 in an arm 128 and through the plate 122 and by a second pin 130 extending through the plate 120 through an opening 132 in an arm 134 and through the plate 133. A pair of retaining keys 136 extend into opening in the plate 120 and into holes adjacent one end of the pins 124, 130 for retaining pins 124 and 130 in the plate 120.-A second pair of retaining pins 138 extend into openings in the plate 122 and into openings adjacent the opposite ends of the pins 124, 130 for retaining pins 124, 130 in the plate 122. A stud shaft 140 is threaded into the plate 122 for rotatably suppom'ng abeveled gear 142. In the assembled position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the beveled gear 142 is enmeshed with the stationary bevel gear 112. A driving sprocket 144 is keyed to rotate with the bevel gear 142 about the shaft 140. The sprocket 144 and bevel gear 142 are maintained on the shaft 140 by a nut 146' which is threaded onto a complementarythreaded end of the shaft 140. A shaft 148 is supported on an extended end of the arm 128 for rotation and has fixed to adjacent one end a sprocket 150 by conventional key and slot connecting means. The arm 128 includes a U-shaped end portion which defines a pair of armsfor supporting a roller 152 therebetween on the shaft 148. The roller 152 is keyed to the shaft 148 whereby a drive from the bevel gear 142 is transferred to the roller 152 by a chain 154 through sprocket 150.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the advancing head includes a.

rod 156 which has one end threaded into a complementary threaded opening'provided in the sleeve 100 and includes a lock nut 158 for locking the rod 156 in place on the sleeve 100. The rod 156 extends through an opening 160 provided in the arm 128 and has a compression spring 162 located around the extended free end. The compression spring 162v is maintained in place on the rod 156 by a threaded nut 164 for adjustably biasing the driving roller 152 through a slot 152A located in the sleeve 100 to urge the roller 152 into engagement with a workpiece.

A second roller 170 is supported on the opposite side of the sleeve 100 for rotation in like matter to the roller 152. The driving support for the roller 170 includes a stud shaft 172 which is threaded into the plate 120 and has rotatably sup ported thereon a bevel gear 142 enmeshed with the stationary bevel gear 112. A driving sprocket 176 is keyed to rotate with the bevel gear 174 about the shaft 172. Bevel gear 174 and sprocket 176 are maintained on the stud shaft 172 by a nut 178. Supported in the extended end of an arm 134 is a shaft 180. Shaft 180 has keyed thereto by a conventional key and slot means a sprocket 182. The sprocket 182 is connected in driving relationship with the sprocket 176 by a conventional chain means 184. The shaft 180 extends through a pair of spaced arm support means on the extended end of the support arm 134 for rotatably supporting the roller 170 therebetween with roller 170 being keyed to rotate with shaft 180.

A rod 186 is supported in substantially coaxial alignment with rod 156 on an opposite side of the sleeve 100. The rod 186 is threaded into a complementary opening in the sleeve and is locked in placethereon by a locking nut 188. The extended end of rod 186 extends through an elongated opening 190 provided in the arm 134. Located on an extended end of the rod 186 opposite the arm 134 is a compression spring 192. The compression spring is maintained in place thereon by a threaded nut 144 which is provided for adjusting the compression on the spring 192 to thereby spring bias the roller 170 through a slot 172a located in the sleeve 100. Each of the driving rollers 152, 170 includes a shaped surface portion for engaging the surface of a cylindrical workpiece and the driving rollers are spring biased into engagement with the workpiece by the compression springs 162, 192. The spring biasing force can be adjusted by the threaded retaining bolts 164, 194. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a protective cover 196 is provided for substantially enclosing the entire advancing heads to protect the mechanism from the dusty environment created during a sanding operation.

Since the advancing heads 16 and 18 are identical to the advancing head 14, reference is made to the above detailed description of advancing head 14 for the details thereof.

OPERATION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT Referring now particularly to FIG. 1, the abrading belts 44,

46 continually travel at substantially right angles relative to the direction of the spiral advancing workpiece when the motor 20 is energized.

Each of the driving sprockets 88, 92 and 96 are rotated counterclockwise when the motor 12 is energized. The driving sprocket 88. rotates the sleeve 100 counterclockwise which in turn rotates the support arms shafts and 172 therewith for rotating the bevel gears 142 and 174 and the described drive train to the roller 152, counterclockwise about the axis of the workpiece. Since the bevel gear 112 remains stationary, the bevel gear 142 rotates clockwise while rotating about the workpiece axis. The roller 152 is rotated clockwise by the bevel gear 142 for advancing the workpiece in an axle direction towards the left. The bevel gear 174 rotates counterclockwise while rotating about the workpiece axis. The roller 170 is rotated counterclockwise by the bevel gear 174 for advancing the workpiece in an axial direction toward the left.

Since the driving rollers 152 and 170 are spring biased into engagement with the workpiece 106 and since the rollers 152 are rotated angularly about the workpiece axis, the workpiece is rotated angularly about its axis. Thus, it can be seen that the rollers 150, 170 will engage and spirally advance the workpiece through the advancing head 14 across the traveling abrading belts 44. When the lead-in of the workpiece is engaged by the rollers in the advancing means 16, the workpiece will be continuously and automatically spirally advanced until the trailing end is advanced out of the advancing means 14. The workpiece will also be advanced through the advancing head 16 and through the advancing head 18 in a similar manner as described hereinabove to provide an efficient and reliable sanding of a cylindrical workpiece.

It now becomes apparent that the above described illustrative embodiment of the sanding machine is capable of obtaining the above stated objects and advantages. It is also apparent that those skilled in the art may make modifications in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention which is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an improved workpiece advancing means for use in advancing a workpiece past a working station comprising, in combination:

a. a support framework;

b. power means supported on said framework;

c. a workpiece guide means supported on said framework;

d. means operatively connecting said power means to said workpiece guide means for rotating said guide means about a workpiece axis;

e. rotatable drive means supported on said guide means,

said rotatable drive means detailed for driving engagement with theworkpiece for advancing the workpiece during a working operation; and

f. means connected to said guide rotating means for rotating said rotatable drive means about an axis disposed at a substantially right angle to the longitudinal axis of said workpiece and for simultaneously driving said rotatable drive means about an axis substantially coaxial to the iongitudinal axis of said workpiece whereby said workpiece is driven in an axial direction and simultaneously rotated angularly for spirally advancing the workpiece during a working operation.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said rotatable drive means includes a pair of rollers rotatable about a respective roller axis.

3. A machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said pair of rollers is detailed such that one roller is supported on opposite sides of the workpiece axis.

4. A machine as defined in claim 1 further comprising biasing means for urging said pair of rollers into engagement with the workpiece.

5. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide means includes a tubular-shaped member rotatable about the workpiece axis by said power source, and means supporting said rotatable drive means on said tubular-shaped member for driving engagement with said workpiece.

6. A machine as defined in claim 5 wherein said rotatable drive means includes a pair of drive rollers with one roller supported on opposite sides of said tubular shaped member and including means spring biasing each of said rollers into engagement with said workpiece.

7. A workpiece advancing means as in claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said rotatable drive means about an axis disposed at a substantially right angle to the longitudinal axis of said workpiece comprises a bevel gear fixedly mounted on an axis coinciding with that of the workpiece and a second bevel gear mounted on said workpiece support and engaging said fixed bevel gear, said second bevel gear being connected to said rotatable drive means to rotate said rotatable drive means as said second bevel gear is moved around said fixed bevel gear by rotation of said workpiece guide means about the workpiece axis.

8. A workpiece advancing means as in claim 7 wherein said second bevel gear and said rotatable drive means are mounted on parallel shafts and wherein a sprocket is provided on each of said shafts and an endless driving chain engages both of said sprockets.

9. A workpiece advancing device as in a claim 8 further comprising a pair of spaced parallel plates fixedly mounted on said workpiece guide means and a stud shaft fixedly supported on one of said plates, said second bevel gear being rotatably mounted on said stud shaft.

10. A workpiece advancing means as in claim 9 wherein said spaced parallel plates are connected by a pin and an arm is pivotally mounted at one end on said pin in the space between said plates and wherein said rotatable drive means comprises a grooved roller rotatably mounted on said arm.

11. A workpiece advancing means as in claim 10 wherein said arm includes a U-shaped portion at its end opposite that on which it is pivotally mounted and said grooved roller is mounted in said U-shaped portion.

12. A workpiece advancing means as in claim ll wherein said arm is provided with an opening intermediate its ends and wherein a rod is secured to said workpiece guide means and projects through said opening, said rod being provided on its end opposite said workpiece guide means with an adjustable nut, and a spring surrounding said rod between said nut and said arm for urging the free end of said arm and said rotatable drive means toward said wo rkp iece support. 

1. In an improved workpiece advancing means for use in advancing a workpiece past a working station comprising, in combination: a. a support framework; b. power means supported on said framework; c. a workpiece guide means supported on said framework; d. means operatively connecting said power means to said workpiece guide means for rotating said guide means about a workpiece axis; e. rotatable drive means supported on said guide means, said rotatable drive means detailed for driving engagement with the workpiece for advancing the workpiece during a working operation; and f. means connected to said guide rotating means for rotating said rotatable drive means about an axis disposed at a substantially right angle to the longitudinal axis of said workpiece and for simultaneously driving said rotatable drive means about an axis substantially coaxial to the longitudinal axis of said workpiece whereby said workpiece is driven in an axial direction and simultaneously rotated angularly for spirally advancing the workpiece during a working operation.
 2. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said rotatable drive means includes a pair of rollers rotatable about a respective roller axis.
 3. A machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said pair of rollers is detailed such that one roller is supported on opposite sides of the workpiece axis.
 4. A machine as defined in claim 1 further comprising biasing means for urging said pair of rollers into engagement with the workpiece.
 5. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide means includes a tubular-shaped member rotatable about the workpiece axis by said power source, and means supporting said rotatable drive means on said tubular-shaped member for driving engagement with said workpiece.
 6. A machine as defined in claim 5 wherein said rotatable drive means includes a pair of drive rollers with one roller supported on opposite sides of said tubular shaped member and including means spring biasing each of said rollers into engagement with said workpiece.
 7. A workpiece advancing means as in claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said rotatable drive means about an axis disposed at a substantially right angle to the longitudinal axis of said workpiece comprises a bevel gear fixedly mounted on an axis coinciding with that of the workpiece and a second bevel gear mounted on said workpiece support and engaging said fixed bevel gear, said second bevel gear being connected to said rotatable drive means to rotate said rotatable drive means as said second bevel gear is moved around said fixed bevel gear by rotation of said workpiece guide means about the workpiece axis.
 8. A workpiece advancing means as in claim 7 wherein said second bevel gear and said rotatable drive means are mounted on parallel shafts and wherein a sprocket is provided on each of said shafts and an endless driving chain engages both of said sprockets.
 9. A workpiece advancing deVice as in a claim 8 further comprising a pair of spaced parallel plates fixedly mounted on said workpiece guide means and a stud shaft fixedly supported on one of said plates, said second bevel gear being rotatably mounted on said stud shaft.
 10. A workpiece advancing means as in claim 9 wherein said spaced parallel plates are connected by a pin and an arm is pivotally mounted at one end on said pin in the space between said plates and wherein said rotatable drive means comprises a grooved roller rotatably mounted on said arm.
 11. A workpiece advancing means as in claim 10 wherein said arm includes a U-shaped portion at its end opposite that on which it is pivotally mounted and said grooved roller is mounted in said U-shaped portion.
 12. A workpiece advancing means as in claim 11 wherein said arm is provided with an opening intermediate its ends and wherein a rod is secured to said workpiece guide means and projects through said opening, said rod being provided on its end opposite said workpiece guide means with an adjustable nut, and a spring surrounding said rod between said nut and said arm for urging the free end of said arm and said rotatable drive means toward said workpiece support. 